San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-11-14
MONDAY, NOVEMBER, IA, 1887.
THE NEW SUNDAY.

Solomon says that there is no new
thing under the sun, but then Solomon
was not in San Antonio yesterday, or he
might have said otherwise. The new
departure ordered in the Observance OF
the day in which the majority OF church
goers attended worship, was new
thing under the sun, in San Antonio st
least. This attempted departure has
called forth no little comment on the
streets and in the homes, and is destined
to call forth much more. just as pos.
session is nine points of the law, so
place upon the statute books is nine
points in favor OF the enforcement of
any statute which may be thus existing.
These nine points are strong odds
against any one who would argue the
opposite side Of the case, but they by no
means decide the points at issue. The
LIGHT is not accustomed to shirk the re-
spOnsibilty of decided opinion upon
matters OF state, national or municipal
policy, and does not propose to do So 10
of the criticism passed upon its course.
That the LIGHT ia unslterably op-
posed to all laws which sbridge the lib
erty Of the subject unnecessarily, or in
terfere with the exercise Of his indiVid-
ual and personal habits, lie well known
to all who are even cursOrily acquSint.
ed with its columns. 1t is also true that
the LIGHT includes all Sabbataran laws
In this catalogue, and is as unalter-
ably opposed to them as to the prohibi-
tory amendment which was showed un-
der by $4,000 majority against it on
the 4th day Of last August.
AS republican journal, pure and un-
mixed, the LIGHT might throw this
whole matter upon the shoulders of an
incompetent and generally condemned
democratic Legislature, and, leaving
them to bear the curses which they
have rghteOusly earned, wash it's hands
OF the whole matter. This the LIGHT
Is not disposed to do, because the evil is
done; the legislature is rot in session;
the law is on the statute book: the ar
gument is continually reiterated-let
the law be enforced, and if it be bad
one, repeal it. Undetered by the con-
sideration that it may be clasSed as
law breaking journal, the LIGHT has no
hesitation in putting itself upon record.
The law is there, and the LIGHT is op-
posed to its attempted enforcement.
Opposed to 1t, first, because the LIGHT
has very strong doubts Of its cOnstitu-
tiosality. Opposed to it, second,
because the LIGHT has no doubts of it's
being an unjust law; that is, a law bear
Ing unequslly upon the citizens, and
being pernicous.example of class legis-
lation. The law is not an expression of
the will of the majority, and If, it were.
1t is unjust, because, it makes the will,
caprice or prejudice of one man or class
the law by which anoth er man or class
fs to be governed. The church ia not
the state. The church is q burden to
the state, yielding no revenue to the
state, while demanding OF the state .
control Of the habits and a curtailment
OF the privileges Of the tax paying and
burden bearing portion Of community.
The law passed by the Twentieth Legis-
lature, known as the SUNDAY law" in
terferes with the business OF citizens
licensed by the state to do business, and
does SO in the supposed interest Of GER
tain institutions which pay no state rev.
enues, and which do not include In their
organizations more than a small per
cent Of the people of the state.
1t is no more the business of the state
to enforce church ideas than it is to en-
force saloon ideas. 1t is no more the
business Of the state to prevent one man
going to beer garden than it lie to pre-
vent another man going to church. 1t is
not question of the relative good or i'll
OF either Of these acts. 1t lie purely and
simply n question Of the liberty of the
Individual TO do either, and the one
equally with the other. The saloon man
has no right to interfere with his neigh
Dor who desires to attend church with
his family, and the state says he shall
not. The state should protect the man